A "NOT WANTED" poster of a group of thugs has been plastered around the housing estate they terrorised.

It is understood to be the first time in Greater Manchester that such a measure has been taken in a bid to rid a community of yobs.

The warning notices show pictures of three of the tearaways and give details of a further two.

They tell residents of the Brookhouse estate in Eccles, Salford, to contact police if they are spotted breaking Anti Social Behaviour Orders imposed by the courts.

Restrictions

Some of the youths are banned from parts of the estate and others are subject to restrictions, including being barred from meeting on the street in groups.

Council bosses, residents and police are determined to reclaim the estate after shopkeepers in Brookhouse Avenue were the target of racist taunts, intimidation and vandalism by a gang of youths for two years.

The striking yellow and black posters are also being delivered to every house on the estate.

They show photographs of Duane Martin Sandlan, 19, Anthony Silver, 15, and Ben Kirby, 16. Details are also given of Darren Millward, 16, and Anthony James Gage, 16.

Precise information about the ASBO restrictions on each one is given on the poster.

Sandlan, of Foxhills Road, Eccles, who tried to intimidate shopkeepers by daubing the word "Grass" on their premises, is banned from parts of Brookhouse Avenue.

Kirby, of Salteye Road, and Millward, of Northfleet Road, both on the estate, are also barred from part of the same street and from congregating in groups of five or more in a manner likely to cause alarm or harassment.

Silver, from Tootal Drive, Salford, is barred from the Brookhouse area and from drinking alcohol in a public place.

All four were involved in the harassment of shopkeepers and residents.

Alarm

Gage, of Atherton Way, Eccles, must not be in groups of three or more causing alarm on the estate, or associate with Kirby and two others. All the ASBOs last until 2005 and breaches carry a maximum custodial sentence of five years.

Salford's deputy council leader, David Lancaster, an Eccles councillor, said: "A handful of tearaways have been making life a misery for the majority of decent people on the Brookhouse estate."

Chief Supt Brian Wroe, head of Salford police, said: "This initiative is designed to send a strong message to persons engaging in anti-social behaviour that their conduct will not be tolerated."

The decision to use photographs comes despite a similar anti-crime poster campaign to name and shame burglars, drug dealers and car thieves suffering a setback in the High Court.

A plan by Essex police to display the photograph of convicted criminals in public places was challenged by a burglar.